Flax Plain Weft-Knitted Fabrics: Impact of Pilling on Structure and Electrical Resistivity

The objective of this research is to explore structural characteristics (loop length and stitch density) and electrical resistivity (volume and surface) of plain weft-knitted flax fabrics, both before and after pilling. Pilling in these fabrics was conducted using a Martindale device equipped with two abrasives: the knitted fabric under examination and a wool woven fabric. A decrease in loop length and stitch density of the knitted fabrics after pilling with both abrasives was noted, except for loop length in two lightweight samples. Before pilling, a reducing loop length and increasing other structural characteristics of the fabrics correlated with reduced resistivity. After pilling, all examined samples displayed decreased volume and surface electrical resistivity, except the sample characterized by the highest structural values, which displayed increased surface electrical resistivity after pilling with both abrasives. Fabrics subjected to pilling with the wool woven fabric showcased lower values in both volume and surface electrical resistivity.